Community Oversight

Police usually investigate and decide what, if any, consequences their fellow officers should face in cases of police misconduct. Under this system, fewer than1 in every 12 complaintsof police misconduct nationwide results in some kind of disciplinary action against the officer(s) responsible. Communities need an urgent way to ensure police officers are held accountable for police violence.

Policy Solutions

Establish effective civilian oversight structures

Establish an all-civilian oversight structure with discipline power that includes a Police Commission and Civilian Complaints Office with the following powers:

The Police Commission should:

determine policy for the police department based on community input and expertise

share policy and policy changes in publicly accessible formats

discipline and dismiss police officers

hold public disciplinary hearings

select the candidates for Police Chief, to be hired by the Mayor

evaluate and fire the Police Chief, if needed

receive full-time, competitive salaries for all members

receive regular training on policing and civil rights

not have current, former or family of police officers as members

select its members from candidates offered by community organizations

The Civilian Complaints Office should:

receive, investigate and resolve all civilian complaints against police in 120 days

For all stops by a police officer, require officers to give civilians their name, badge number, reason for the stop and a card with instructions for filing a complaint to the civilian oversight structure.